Renunciation Part – Thirteen

Renunciation

Bhakthi and the attitude of surrender that is its final fruits will give you great courage to meet any emergency; such courage is what is called Renunciation. The story of Mohajith is a good example of this highest type of detachment.

Mohajith, the Prince, went to a Sage in the forest and sought guidance in the spiritual path. The sage asked him whether he had conquered attachment as his name indicated. The Prince said that not only he, but every one in his kingdom had! So the Sage started to test the truth of this claim.

The sage took the Prince’s robes, soaked them in blood and hastened to the Palace Gate with the gruesome story of the murder of the Prince by some ruffians in the jungle. The maid whom he met refused to hurry with the news to the Royal apartments because she said, “He was born, he died; what is the special urgency of this news that I should interrupt my regular routine and run to the King and Queen?”

When at last he got an audience and was able to communicate the sad news to the father, he sat unruffled, whispering to himself, “The bird flew off the tree on which it had alighted to take rest.” The Raani too was unmoved. She told the sage that this Earth is a caravanserai, where men come and stay for the night and when dawn breaks, one by one, they tramp their different ways. Kith and kin are the words we use for the attachment to the travellers cultivated in the caravanserai during the short term of acquaintance.

The wife of the “dead” Prince was also unaffected; she said, “Husband and wife are like two pieces of wood drifting down a flooded river; they float near each other for some time and when some current comes between, they are parted: each must move on to the sea at its own rate and in its own time. There is no need to grieve over the parting of the two; it is in the very nature of Nature that it should be so.”

The sage was overjoyed to see this steady and sincere Vairaagya (dispassion) in the rulers and the ruled. He came back to the forest and told the Prince that while he was away, a hostile army had invaded his Kingdom and slain the entire royal family and captured his Kingdom and enslaved his subjects. He took the news calmly and said, “All this is bubble, impermanent, flimsy. Let it go the way of the bubble. Guide me to reach the Infinite, the Imperishable.”

Such courage comes out of the Grace of the Lord; it needs generations of learning and struggle. Meanwhile, you must start with the first step, the cleansing of the mind and the cultivation of virtue. Even if you do not start with that step, at least do not laugh at those who do, and discourage them. Do at least this much!

Renunciation – A sacred path of freedom, purity, and inner peace

Renunciation is a meaningful spiritual theme that teaches us the art of living in the world without becoming a slave to it. Many people think it means leaving home, giving up family, wearing simple clothes, or going to a forest. But the deeper meaning is not only outer abandonment. It is inner freedom from ego, greed, attachment, selfish desires, and false pride. A person may live in society, perform duties, care for family, and still be spiritually detached if the heart remains connected with God.

Renunciation does not ask us to hate the world. The world is a field of duty, learning, service, and spiritual growth. The problem begins when we become trapped by possession, expectation, comparison, and craving. We start thinking, “This is mine, only I should enjoy, I must be praised, I must control everything.” These thoughts create fear and restlessness. True spiritual living begins when we use worldly things responsibly without allowing them to rule the mind.

Renunciation first means giving up selfishness. A selfish person may own many things but still feel poor inside. Such a person is always worried about losing, gaining, and competing. A selfless person may live simply but carries peace because the heart is lighter. When we share, serve, forgive, and think of others, attachment becomes weaker and love becomes purer.

Another important part of Renunciation is control of desires. Desires are endless when they are not guided by wisdom. One wish creates another, and the mind never feels fully satisfied. Comfort is needed, but luxury can become bondage. Food is needed, but greed for taste can disturb discipline. Money is useful, but obsession with money can destroy peace. The wise person learns the difference between need and greed.

Renunciation also teaches detachment from results. We must do our duty sincerely, but we should not become broken when results are delayed or different from what we expected. A student must study, a worker must work honestly, a parent must guide with love, and a devotee must practice good values. After sincere effort, the result should be accepted with faith. This attitude reduces anxiety and brings inner balance.

Many people suffer because they are attached to praise and afraid of criticism. If someone praises them, they feel high. If someone blames them, they feel crushed. This shows dependence on others’ opinions. Renunciation helps a person remain steady. It teaches us to act according to conscience, not for applause. When our intention is pure, we do not need constant approval from the world.

This path also includes giving up ego. Ego is one of the strongest chains. It says, “I am the doer, I am superior, I know everything.” But life itself shows that we are not in full control. Breath, health, time, opportunity, and even success depend on many unseen factors. A humble person understands that every blessing comes through divine grace. Humility makes the heart soft and ready for wisdom.

Renunciation does not mean neglecting responsibilities. A person who runs away from duty in the name of spirituality has not understood the teaching. Real detachment means performing every duty with love, but without possessiveness. Care for family, but do not control them selfishly. Earn money honestly, but do not worship wealth. Enjoy life’s blessings, but remember that everything is temporary.

The body itself teaches this truth. Youth, beauty, strength, and health change with time. Wealth may come and go. Relationships may change. Success may not remain forever. When we understand the temporary nature of life, we become less arrogant and more grateful. This awareness does not make life sad. It makes life meaningful because we start valuing what is eternal: love, truth, service, devotion, and peace.

Prayer supports this journey. Without divine remembrance, detachment can feel difficult. The mind naturally runs toward attractions, worries, and attachments. Prayer brings the mind back to a higher center. Repeating God’s name, reading sacred teachings, sitting in silence, and serving others help purify the heart. Slowly, the grip of worldly cravings becomes weaker.

Service is a powerful form of detachment. When we help others without expecting praise or reward, ego reduces. Feeding the hungry, comforting the sad, supporting the weak, and speaking kindly to those in pain turn the heart away from selfishness. Service teaches us that life is not only for personal enjoyment. It is an opportunity to become useful and loving.

In the end, Renunciation is not a dry rejection of life. It is a joyful freedom from inner bondage. It allows us to live with simplicity, gratitude, discipline, love, and surrender. We may still work, love, serve, and fulfill duties, but the heart remains peaceful because it is not chained by desire and ego. When attachment reduces and devotion grows, life becomes lighter, purer, and closer to God.